Janice Wong

Published on 14 Dec 2016.

Renowned chef-owner of the long-standing 2am:dessertbar agrees that there’s no place like her Holland Village home.

There’s so much to see and do here in Holland Village;there are Indian, Chinese, Japanese restaurants, spa places, bakeries, bars – it’s a very unique neighbourhood and that’s what I love about Holland Village.

A lot of people only visit the ground level shops in Holland Village. Many aren’t aware that there are more shops on the second level of these buildings! For example, if you walk up the flight of stairs beside El Patio Mexican Restaurant & Wine Bar (34 Lorong Mambong), you’ll find a spot where you can do your eyebrows (Rupini’s, 34A Lorong Mambong) and get pizza (Crust, 34B Lorong Mambong).

I like to go to Holland Village Market & Food Centre (1 Lorong Mambong) for local dishes like minced pork mee pok (flat yellow egg noodles). Over at Chip Bee Gardens, there’s Original Sin (#01-62, 43 Jalan Merah Saga), a vegetarian Mediterranean restaurant that I love – it’s been around for ages.

Food and drink aside, you have to come here for a spa treatment. There’s Qi Mantra (18A Lorong Mambong), My Happy Feet (21A Lorong Mambong)... for a small enclave like Holland Village, there are about five or six choices, which is pretty amazing!

For a dessert with local flavour, pop by 2am:dessertbar for Shades of Green, which consists of a pistachio sponge, coco mousse, and pandan gula melaka (palm sugar) custard.

If you’re spending a day in Holland Village, start with a dim sum (Cantonese-style bite-sized food) breakfast at Crystal Jade Kitchen (2 Lorong Mambong). In the afternoon, get a massage, then walk over to Chip Bee Gardens for a nice cup of coffee at the Monocle Café (74 Jalan Kelabu Asap). For dinner, pick one of the many ramen (Japanese soup noodles) outlets for Japanese fare. Then, hit up Wala Wala Café Bar (31 Lorong Mambong) for great live music and post-dinner drinks.